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Standards Used in Cataloging
Descriptive Cataloging Standards
The Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition, 2002 Revision¹ (AACR2R) (and its most recent updates) serve as the current authority for descriptive cataloging at NLM. These rules are supplemented by the Library of Congress Rule Interpretations, Second Edition, 1989 (LCRI) as continuously updated in the Library of Congress Cataloging Service Bulletin. The bibliographic records are formatted according to MARC21 Format for Bibliographic Data.
Personal and corporate name headings appearing in many cataloging records follow AACR2R rules, and corresponding LC rule interpretations. Some records were cataloged prior to the adoption of AACR2R and thus, the headings used may reflect earlier cataloging practices. In addition, name headings in all records cataloged after December 31, 1984, except limited cataloging described below, have been contributed to NACO (Name Authority Cooperative Program). The authority records are formatted according to MARC21 Format for Authority Data.
NLM applies multi-level description in the cataloging of monographs: full level descriptive cataloging, core level cataloging following the core standards promulgated by the Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) (cf. Introduction to the Program for Cooperative Cataloging BIBCO Core Record Standard), and NLM's minimal level or "Limited cataloging." Serials are cataloged following the CONSER core standard record guidelines or as NLM’s minimal level cataloging. Details of the various levels of description used at NLM in the cataloging of monographs and serials are documented in NLM Cataloging Section: Definition of Cataloging Levels.
Subject Cataloging Standards- Subject Headings
The subject headings used in cataloging are from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH®), NLM's controlled vocabulary, which is used in the preparation of MEDLINE®, and PubMed®, as well as for subject cataloging. NLM assigns subject headings as appropriate to all materials regardless of imprint date.
- Classification
Medical titles generally are classified according to the National Library of Medicine Classification available online at http://wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/class/ (see also Classification and Shelflisting).
For titles in fields peripheral to medicine, the Library of Congress classification schedules are used in full, with no modification.
Various substitutes for traditional call numbers are used in cataloging:
1. Since 1994, an accession shelving number has been used in addition to an NLM or LC classification number for the call number of records for print monographs shelved in the general collection at NLM. Prior to that time, only a fully shelflisted call number based on NLM or LC classification was provided, except in the case of limited cataloging (see number 4, below).
2. An alphanumeric shelving number is used instead of an NLM or LC classification number for the call number of limited cataloging records for materials cataloged prior to 1994.
3. A fully shelflisted alternative call number is provided for monographic titles given full or core level cataloging shelved in the general collection at NLM.
4. A classification number, without cuttering or date, is assigned to items receiving limited cataloging and remote access electronic resources. (An alternate classification number has been added to limited cataloging records since summer 1988.)
5. Serials are classified in the form number W1 with the exceptions of: Government administrative reports or statistics (W2), hospital administrative reports or statistics (WX 2), certain publication types, e.g., directories (monographic form numbers), and bibliographies and indexes (Z).
Before July 1988, the W3 classification number was assigned to sequentially numbered or dated monographic conferences. These congresses are now classed in the appropriate subject classification. Reports or proceedings of congresses published as serials are classified in W1 with other serials.
NLM classes serial analytics with the serial call number. W1 and W3 serial analytics cataloged since the mid 1970s also carry an alternative subject call number provided by NLM for libraries wishing to class such publications by subject.
6. Since 2004, an audiovisual accession shelving number has been used for non-print materials shelved in the general collection at NLM. An alternative NLM or LC classification number is provided without a cutter number or date.
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Last reviewed: 21 July 2008
Last updated: 21 July 2008
First published: 02 December 2003
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